Introduction

It’s definitely not a portable lock. This is one to keep in your garage or shed, or wherever you leave your bike overnight. But you should be able to sleep soundly, knowing that it’s providing the very best protection available today.

In this review I will look at how secure it is, and how easy it is to carry around and use. At the end of the review I suggest some alternatives in case it’s not quite the right bike lock for you.

How secure is it?

The New York Legend is the only Kryptonite chain with 15 mm thick links. And while the 3 ton, hardened steel links can theoretically be cut by the very biggest 42″ bolt cutters, it would take a very skilled (and heavy!) thief who’s able to position the chain favorably and use the ground for leverage. In fact, if you use the right locking method you can make this impossible.

The padlock that comes with the Legend is a beast. A 16 mm, MAX-Performance steel shackle is too thick to be defeated by bolt cutters, and is shrouded to protect it from other attacks. It also uses a double deadbolt for extra strength and protection. And while it’s almost impossible to defeat through force, it employs a high security disc cylinder which makes it very difficult to pick too.

These qualities are reflected in the security ratings of the Legend. Kryptonite themselves give it 10/10 for “Ultimate Security”. And in fact, there are only a handful of other Kryptonite locks with 10/10 security ratings and they all belong to the “New York” range.

Unusually, Sold Secure, (the most popular and prolific independent testing body) have not awarded the Legend a security rating. Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s no good. It just means it hasn’t been submitted for testing.

However, ART (the other big, independent testing body) have tested and rated the Legend, awarding it a maximum 5/5 stars. ART are actually more rigorous than Sold Secure in their tests and there are only a handful of other bike locks which have received 5/5 stars.

What does all this mean? It means the Legend is an incredibly secure bike lock. You can rest assured that the only way a thief is going to defeat this lock is with power tools. And even then, it will take a significant amount of time.

Is it easy to carry around?

No! This is not a chain to carry around with you every day. The Legend is available in two lengths. And both of them are extremely heavy. The shortest is the 1590 which weighs 9.50 lb (4.31 kg). That’s the same as 11 cans of coke! While the longer 1515 weighs in at a whopping 15.95 lb (7.23 kg). That’s 18 cans of coke!

Carrying either of these chains around regularly is completely impractical. So this is a lock to leave permanently in one place. Probably at home, in the shed or the garage. You could also use it so secure your bike to a roof rack on your car or to a caravan.

If you’re going somewhere really risky you could take it in a bag. But you definitely don’t want to be wrapping it round your seat post and nipping in to town on a regular basis! If you’re looking for a daily portable lock, there are much more sensible options that offer almost as much protection. I’m thinking of the New York Fahgettaboudit u-lock for example. Or other high security u-locks.

How easy is it to use?

Once we accept that this isn’t a portable lock, how easy it is to use is largely dependent on how easily we can get it round our bikes. And this has a lot to do with how long it is. The 1590 measures 3 foot (90 cm). While the 1514 is over half as long again at 5 foot (150 cm).

For me, the 3 foot 1590 is just a little short. Depending on what you’re trying to lock it to, you may struggle to get it round one wheel and the frame. Much better to go with the longer, (5 foot) 1514. Again, it depends on what you’re locking your bike to, but you’ll probably be able to secure both wheels and the frame. You may be able to secure two or more bikes.

Sure, the longer model is more expensive. But it’s cheaper than buying two locks. And if it makes things easier, it’s probably worth it.

The Legend is covered in a thick nylon sheath with hook and loop straps to keep it in place. This will protect your paintwork from those big, heavy chain links!

Indeed, you really shouldn’t underestimate how bulky this chain is. Each link is about the same size as an iPhone 5, but much, much heavier. So it can be a bit of a challenge to thread it through your wheels and frame.

Another thing worth noting, is that there’s only enough room for the padlock shackle to fasten through one chain link. So, in order to close the loop, you first pass one end link through the other and then fasten the shackle around the protruding link. This really limits the opportunities for attack and makes the lock much more secure. And once you understand how it works, is no more difficult to use!

Does it include insurance?

The Legend is also eligible for Kryptonite’s own Anti Theft Protection. Should you register with this scheme, if your bike is stolen as a result of this lock being defeated, Kryptonite can pay out up to $4,500 / £2,500 / €2,000, depending on the value of your bicycle.

I write about this in much more detail in the Abus vs Kryptonite vs OnGuard page. But to summarize here, the scheme isn’t free, you need to register as soon as you buy the lock and it can be difficult to get Kryptonite to pay out if your bike is stolen.

It’s much better to organize your own insurance, whether through your household policy or through a specialized bicycle protection policy.

Conclusion

The New York Legend is one of the most secure bike locks available today. There are other chain locks that are more secure. But the few bike locks that do offer a higher level of protection are not easily available, particularly in the US.

Although the 15 mm links can theoretically be cut by the very biggest bolt cutters, I’ve never heard of this happening. And while I’d love for Kryptonite to release a 16 mm chain that they guarantee is bolt cropper proof, until they do so, the New York Legend will remain the most secure widely available protection for your bike.

And the reality is, if you employ the right locking technique you can pretty much guarantee that the only way to defeat this chain is with power tools. And that would take time. And it would be noisy. And most thieves steer well clear of anything that involves lots of time and noise!

So you should sleep very soundly knowing this chain is protecting your bike. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best bike lock for you…

This is a stationary lock. It’s not a lock to carry around on your bike every day. It’s a lock to leave wherever you lock your bike overnight. And it’s not cheap either.

But sometimes it’s worth spending a little more for peace of mind. And if you’re looking for a stationary lock that will offer the very highest level of protection, from a company that offers the very highest levels of customer service, then the Kryptonite New York Legend may well be the best bike lock for you!

Of course if it’s not quite right for you there are alternatives…

Alternatives to the Kryptonite New York Legend

If you’re looking for something more secure, something cheaper or even something more portable, there are viable alternatives to the Legend.

Looking for something more secure?

While the New York Legend is certainly the most secure, widely available bike lock, if you look a little further afield, you can find chains that offer a higher level of protection.

Both the Protector range from Pragmasis and the Immobiliser range from Almax offer 16 mm chain links that are guaranteed to be bolt cutter proof. And both come with the same high quality Squire SS65CS Stronghold Lock which is also impossible to bolt crop.

In fact, these two chains are probably the best protection you can get for your bike. However, they’re not available in the US. And in the UK they can only be bought directly from Pragmasis or Almax.

But if you’re looking for the very best security do check their prices because they often compare well to the New York Legend.

Looking for something cheaper?

The OnGuard Beast 8016L isn’t as secure as the New York Legend. With chain links that are 1 mm thinner at 14 mm, it never could be. But it’s still a very secure bike lock. In fact it’s the most secure chain lock that OnGuard offer, and they give it a 99/100 security rating.

At 72 inches (183 cm) long, you get plenty of chain for your money, which gives you loads of flexibility in how you lock up your bike (or bikes). And the price is fantastic, generally being a third of the cost of the New York Legend!

So if you’re looking for a high security stationary chain at an absolutely bargain price then the OnGuard Beast 8016L or it’s shorter brother the 8016, could well be the best bike lock for you!

Looking for something portable?

The New York Legend is a fantastic bike lock. But it’s not really portable. It’s certainly not a lock you can carry around on your bike every day.

So if you’re looking for the highest security, portable lock, a lock you can use in the street every day, look no further than the Kryptonite New York Noose 1275.

With 12 mm chain links it’s clearly not as secure as the Legend. But it’s still rated Sold Secure Gold and receives 4/5 stars from ART. So you can be sure it is a very secure portable lock.

Be aware it’s at the very top end of what can be considered portable weight wise. At 6.95 lb (3.15 kg), it’s the same weight as 8 cans of coke and makes it heavier than every u-lock.

But chain locks are heavy by nature. And by using the clever noose system, it gets the very most out of it’s relatively short length (30.0” / 75 cm) to ensure you get the very best protection from a lock that is still practical to carry around and use to secure your bike in the street every day.